Ball training device with easy installation

ABSTRACT

A ball training device includes a support, a ball holder for loading a ball, and an elastic tether cord connecting the ball holder to the support. The ball holder includes a top portion, a bottom portion, and a plurality of straps. Each strap connects the top portion to the bottom portion. The plurality of straps includes at least one longitudinal strap and at least one securing strap. The at least one longitudinal strap is made from continuous pieces of material with the top portion and the bottom portion. The securing strap is detachable and includes a first securing portion extending from the top portion, and a second securing portion extending from the bottom portion and securing to the first securing portion. The ball training device is easy to load and unload a ball by closing and opening the securing strap, and it is easy to retrieve the ball.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a ball training device with easy installation to hold and retrieve a ball.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In ball games, such as soccer, the most important trainings are the skills to control or shoot the ball. A player in order to practice his skills, may typically practice repeatedly kicking the soccer balls through a field goal. However, unlike professional soccer teams that have a ready supply of soccer balls as well as the people to retrieve them, individual players, or teams without a large financial backing, will face the problem of spending more time fetching the balls than actually training. Thus a lot of training time and physical strength are wasted in retrieving the ball and this has a negative impact on the effectiveness of the training. Traditionally, a ball holding device includes two respective parts with eight arms coupled to hold the ball, however, it is a waste of time to load and unload the ball.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a ball training device for loading/unloading a ball and retrieving the ball.

In order to solve the above technical problem, one embodiment of the invention provides the following technical solution:

One embodiment of the invention provides a ball training device, which includes a support, a ball holder for holding a ball, and an elastic tether cord connecting the ball holder to the support. The ball holder includes a top portion, a bottom portion, and a plurality of straps. The straps connect the top portion to the bottom portion. The plurality of straps includes at least one longitudinal strap and at least one securing strap. The at least one longitudinal strap is made from continuous pieces of material with the top portion and the bottom portion. The at least one securing strap is detachable and includes a first securing portion extending from the top portion, and a second securing portion extending from the bottom portion and securing to the first securing portion.

As a preferred technical solution of the embodiment of the invention, a holder connector is located on the top portion for connecting the elastic tethering cord.

As a preferred technical solution of the embodiment of the invention, the top portion comprises a reinforcing portion extending around the holder connector.

As a preferred technical solution of the embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing portion comprises a plurality of sutured threads with heavy duty to form a substantially square trace around the holder connector.

As a preferred technical solution of the embodiment of the invention, the at least one longitudinal strap is extensible to couple to various size balls.

As a preferred technical solution of the embodiment of the invention, the at least one securing strap comprises a hook and loop fastener, and the at least one securing strap is detachable to load and unload the ball.

As a preferred technical solution of the embodiment of the invention, a length of the at least one longitudinal strap is predefined depend on the size of the ball.

As a preferred technical solution of the embodiment of the invention, the support comprises a flexible belt with first and second ends configured to encircle a waist of a user.

As a preferred technical solution of the embodiment of the invention, the at least one longitudinal strap comprises two widened ends connected to the top portion and the bottom portion.

Another embodiment of the invention provides a ball training device, which includes a support, a ball holder, and an elastic tether cord connecting the ball holder to the support. The ball holder is integrated and is hollowed out leaving a top portion, a bottom portion, and a plurality of straps connecting the top portion to the bottom portion. The plurality of straps comprises at least one longitudinal strap and at least one securing strap. The at least one securing strap is detachable for loading/unloading a ball. A holder connector is located on the top portion. The top portion comprises a reinforcing portion extending around the holder connector.

As a preferred technical solution of the embodiment of the invention, the at least one longitudinal strap is made from continuous pieces of material with the top portion and the bottom portion.

As a preferred technical solution of the embodiment of the invention, the at least one longitudinal strap is extensible to couple to various size balls.

As a preferred technical solution of the embodiment of the invention, the at least one longitudinal strap comprises two widened ends connected to the top portion and the bottom portion.

As a preferred technical solution of the embodiment of the invention, the at least one securing strap is detachable and comprises a first securing portion extending from the top portion, and a second securing portion extending from the bottom portion to secure to the first securing portion.

As a preferred technical solution of the embodiment of the invention, the at least one securing strap comprises a hook and loop fastener, and the at least one securing strap is detachable to load and unload the ball.

As a preferred technical solution of the embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing portion comprises a plurality of sutured threads with heavy duty to form a substantially square trace around the holder connector.

As a preferred technical solution of the embodiment of the invention, the support comprises a flexible belt with first and second ends configured to encircle a waist of a user.

As a preferred technical solution of the embodiment of the invention, the support comprises a stake anchoring in the ground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings are used for providing further understanding of the present invention, constitute a part of the description and are used for explaining the present invention together with the embodiment of the present invention, but do not constitute a limitation to the present invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of a ball training device.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a ball holder of the ball training device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of a ball training device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure.

Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in a first embodiment, a ball training device 100 includes a ball holder 10, a support 50, and an elastic tether cord 30 attaching the ball holder 10 to the support 50. The support 50 can be tied to a user or anchored in the ground (FIG. 3). The ball training device 100 can load/unload a ball 200 and retrieve the ball 200. The ball 200 can be of various sizes and shapes, such as soccer balls, or footballs.

The ball holder 10 includes a top portion 11, a bottom portion 12, and a plurality of straps connecting the top portion 11 to the bottom portion 12. A holder connector 113 is located on the top portion 11 for connecting the elastic tethering cord 30. The holder connector 113 may be a nylon loop. The top portion 11 includes a reinforcing portion 115 extending around the holder connector 113. The reinforcing portion 115 may include a plurality of sutured threads with heavy duty to form a substantially square trace around the holder connector 113. When the ball 200 is kicked out, the holder connector 113 is pulled by the elastic tether cord 30, the reinforcing portion 115 can prevent the top portion 11 from being broken down. The bottom portion 12 is located on an opposite side of the top portion 11. The shape of the top portion 11 and the bottom portion 12 is substantially diamond. An area of the top portion 11 is smaller than that of the bottom portion 12, when the top portion 11 and the bottom portion 12 are solid. In another embodiment, at least one of the top portion 11 and the bottom portion 12 is hollowed.

As shown FIG. 2, the straps include three longitudinal straps 14, 15 and 16, and a securing strap 17. Each longitudinal strap is integrated and may be made from continuous pieces of material with the top portion 11 and the bottom portion 12. The longitudinal straps may be made from flexible material that is extensible so as to couple to the balls with different sizes. The securing strap 17 is detachable. The securing strap 17 includes a first securing portion 171 extending from the top portion 11, and a second securing portion 173 extending from the bottom portion 12. The securing strap 17 is made adjustable by a first fastener 175 and a second fastener 176. In the first embodiment, the securing strap 17 may include a hook-and-loop type fastening system, with a hook portion and a loop portion which are to be engaged. This arrangement is also adjustable in that the fit of the ball holder 10 can be adjusted on the ball 200 by adjusting the overlapped or connected portion of the first fastener 175 and the second fastener 176. Each longitudinal strap 14, 15, or 16 may include two widened ends 141, 151, or 161 connected to the top portion 11 and the bottom portion 12.

When loading the ball 200 to the ball holder 10, the securing strap 17 is detached, the ball 200 can be directly loaded into the ball holder 10, and the securing strap 17 is easily secured to hold the ball 200. It is convenient and efficient to load and unload the ball 200 to the ball holder 10. The length of each longitudinal strap and the length of each securing strap can be predefined to match the ball with various sizes.

In the first embodiment, the support 50 may be a flexible belt with first and second ends encircle a waist of a user. The flexible belt may be made of neoprene to provide flexibility. The belt may include a fixing system, such as a hook and loop type fastener, for fixing the belt to the user. Such a fixing system, in conjunction with the neoprene material, is adjustable so as to accommodate and snugly adapt to a variety of waist sizes.

In the first embodiment, the elastic tether cord 30 is made of an elastic material that lengthens under tensile forces, and thereafter contracts due to elastic resilience of the material. The elastic tether cord 30 may stretch out approximately 200%, and include a first attachment portion 31 fixed to the ball holder 10, and a second attachment portion 33 fixed to the support 50. The first attachment portion 31 is a hook and loop type fastener, for fixing the elastic tether cord 30 to the holder connector 113. The second attachment portion 33 is a spring-loaded clip that engages the flexible belt. The spring-loaded clip allows the user to easily attach and remove the elastic tether cord 30 from the support 50. The spring-loaded clip is preferably swivel-mounted to prevent the elastic tether cord 30 from becoming twisted during use. The elastic tether cord 30 includes a length adjustment portion 35, such as a back-loop buckle arrangement that allows the elastic tether cord 30 to be set at various lengths.

Referring to FIG. 3, in a second embodiment, the support 50 may be a stake or a tray 60 anchoring in the ground.

The present invention, while having been described for use with a soccer ball and for providing training for skills associated with the game of soccer, may certainly be readily adapted to other sports by those skilled in the art. Such other sports may include tennis or other racquet sports, volleyball, and American football etc. Clearly, many types of sports require endurance and quick reflexes, and the present invention is particularly well suited for training in these areas.

Advantageously, the ball training device of the embodiments is easy to load and unload a ball, while simultaneously being able to simulate actual game conditions, as well as eliminate the need for retrieving the ball after it has been kicked out. It is efficiently fabricated while also being engineered to be durable. Consequently, the embodiments of the preferred invention disclosed herein reveal a ball training device which is novel over existing designs.

The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Many details are often found in the art such as the other features of a system for generating picture thumbnail. Therefore, many such details are neither shown nor described. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure up to, and including the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the embodiments described above may be modified within the scope of the claims. 

1. A ball training device, comprising: a support; a ball holder comprising a top portion adapted to cover a top portion of a ball, however the ball is rotationally oriented within said ball holder, a bottom portion disposed opposite said top portion and adapted to cover a bottom portion of the ball, however the ball is rotationally oriented within said ball holder, three straps integrally connected to said top portion, to said bottom portion, and to each other, so as to cover three sides of the ball, however the ball is rotationally oriented within said ball holder, and which, together with said top portion, said bottom portion, and each other, define a one-piece, three-sided hollow pocket open upon one side through which a ball may be inserted, a first securing strap portion extending from said top portion, and a second securing strap portion extending from said bottom portion, wherein said first and second securing strap portions are able to be secured together so as to effectively close said one open side of said hollow pocket and thereby retain the ball within said hollow pocket while permitting easy insertion of the ball into said ball holder as well as easy removal of the ball from said ball holder; and an elastic tethering cord connecting said ball holder to said support.
 2. The ball holder training device of claim 1, wherein: a holder connector is located upon said top portion of said ball holder for connecting said ball holder to said elastic tethering cord.
 3. The ball training device of claim 2, wherein: said top portion of said ball holder comprises a reinforcing portion extending around said holder connector.
 4. The ball training device of claim 3, wherein: said reinforcing portion comprises a plurality of heavy duty threads so as to form a substantially square perimeter around said holder connector.
 5. The ball training device of claim 1, wherein: said plurality of straps are extensible so as to form said hollow pocket of a variable size so as to accommodate variously different-sized balls.
 6. The ball training device of claim 1, wherein: end portions of said first and second securing strap portions comprise hook and loop fasteners.
 7. The ball training device of claim 1, wherein: the lengths of said plurality of straps are predefined depending upon the size of the ball to be inserted into said hollow pocket.
 8. The ball training device of claim 1, wherein: said support comprises a flexible belt with first and second ends configured to encircle a waist of a user.
 9. The ball training device of claim 1, wherein: the support comprises a stake anchoring in the ground.
 10. The ball training device of claim 1, wherein: said plurality of straps comprise widened end portions for integral connection to said top and bottom portions of said ball holder.
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